In a gesture to boast that, like others, I also follow and understand the current political events happening around the world, I decided to write something about President Barak Obama! However, except for his name, I found nothing else to talk about! As your Persian teacher, please let me have this honour to translate Obama for you:
O /u/ = He
Ba = with
Ma = us (we)

So, Obama in Persian means ‘He with us’. How deeply I long to see that he is really with us! He is very attractive (as a brother, of course!!) and innocently friendly when he smiles. He is a brilliant speaker, seems to be a man of his words, and, above all, has a lovely name. Mr. Obama has been able to draw the attention of the world to himself in a positive way, which heavies the burden he is shouldering. I believe the 44th president of America has every reason and the best ever opportunity to make his name eternal both in the United States and in the outside world.
To be frank, however, I saw something during Mr. President’s inauguration, which saddened my heart. I was disappointed not because of what I saw, but because of what that observation reminded me of; it reminded me of Iran. In pain I said to myself, ‘what a long, long, long way the people of my country will have ahead of them before they can experience freedom from religious authorities while in a multicultural, democratic and free nation like America, a priest speaks before the president’.

Love and peace,
Hassan H.
Thursday, 22 January 2009

1- Sleep – (From Rain of Love) by Nasser CheshmAzar – About six minutes
2- Freedom – (From Rain of Love) by Nasser CheshmAzar – About six minutes

1- Shajarian – Dastan – Chekad (No lyrics)
2- Shajarian – Aseman e Eshgh – (Heaven of Love) (No lyrics)
3- Shajarian – Tasnif e Aseman e Eshgh

Dear friends
Salam!
We are still talking about war and peace.
A friend of mine has sent me a video link, which I think is not bad to watch.
In this clip, you will see a lady who has recently visited Iran. She is part of a political group called ‘Code Pink’, which is believed to be espousing peace, especially between Iran and USA (based on the explanation I have received). She has conducted two fasts, stating she wouldn’t eat until Joe Lieberman (the United States senator) agreed to an interview (which, apparently, is not granted).
I invite you to watch the video clip, which is posted on Youtube website.
Here is the address: Meet Senator Joe Lieberman

I hope you will like it.
Like you, I love love, I love peace, and I do not like radicalism; be it cultural, religious, educational, and even democratic!!
Best,
Hassan H.

Many of you have been asking about the situation in Iran.
Well, based on a Persian expression, ‘no one says his yoghurt is sour’!
I agree the news we receive from Iran is not very promising. However, as you may know, politicians are different from common people! I do not think we can judge a nation merely based on what a couple of leaders do.
Unfortunately, politics makes things complicated. This is the nature of this job!
Let me simply tell you that each country has both good and bad people. However, this is very unfair if we believe all Iranians think like Mr. Ahmadinejad, for example.
What I know about the Iranian people is that they mostly love foreigners. We should know that people of Iran have no problems with the American people. As you know, the problem is our governments.
To answer your possible questions about the environment in Iran, I am presenting you with a message. One of my online students, who has just returned from Iran, sent me the following message. By accident, she is American!
The next is her comments on her trip.
Wish you great time in Iran!
Best,
Hassan H.

Hassan agha, salam aleikum,
…
I had such a wonderful time while in Iran. The Iranian people were all so friendly and helpful, and they seem to really love Americans. Everyone wanted to chat and practice their English. They also wanted to exchange email addresses and I came home to a message from a young lady I met under the Khadju Bridge in Esfahan. She and her friend who was with her are studying tourism, and she is taking a class this semester on the Imam Square and buildings, next semester on the bridges of Esfahan, then she will be through and ready to start working as a tour guide. She actually came to meet our group a couple days later at the square and spent time telling us what she has learned about the mosques and palace there. I invited her to have lunch with us; told her to relay to her professor that she would learn much more hanging out with the Americans that she possibly could in class, but she said her teacher was big, ugly and mean and she couldn’t skip her class! People were also very helpful; a couple times when I got disoriented, someone not only offered to point me in the right direction, but also walked me there. In fact, one woman was very insistent that I make the hand motion that would stop traffic so I could cross. She knew no English, still we communicated with my limited Farsi. There was one incident on my last foray out for a walk by myself that a policeman came across to the middle of the street where I was waiting for a break in traffic (which didn’t come) and helped me across. Wasn’t that above and beyond? I met so many potential friends, and had so many offers to visit homes for tea that I know it is not the Iranian people who are our enemies and it is not the American people who are their enemies, but this enmity lies in the hands of our governments. Both Iranians and Americans want peace and friendship. Coming home, in the Airport we met a young Iranian man who is studying medicine at the Stanford University in CA. At dinner the night before, we met a young woman who is doing graduate work at an American university. Everyone we met had the same message: peace! That is our message as well.
This message has turned into an epistle; I am sure you are tiring of reading it, so will say goodbye for now. Beh farmai sohan o peste o gaz keh az keshvarat avardam. Anita

Not long ago, I read in news that the Iranian president compared the Iranian nuke program to ‘runway train’.
Then, there was a reply by American Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice saying ‘just push the stop button’!
Here are their exact words:
Mr. Ahmadinejad, “The train of the Iranian nation is without brakes and a rear gear. We dismantled the rear gear and brakes of the train and threw them away sometime ago.”

Ms. Condoleezza Rice, “They don’t need a reverse gear. They need a stop button.”

As I read their statements, a lovely caricature passed through my mind (at least, it looked lovely to me!). Unfortunately, I am terrible at drawing. That is why I have not painted anything! (If you promise not to tell anybody, I always failed this class!)
This was the picture I got in my mind:
A man, who looks a little naughty (and preferably looks like Ahmadinejad!!), is smiling while sitting at the rooftop of a fast moving train. His head is straightforward and it is a bit down to escape the wind but his eyes are focused on somebody by the rail.
He has something, say some brakes, in his hand that is stretched out towards the person who is standing by the rail. Seemingly, he is showing the brakes to somebody.
Beside the rail, there is a lady in her long boots, wearing almost short skirt. She has a purse under her left arm, and at the same time, with her left hand, she is holding her skirt to keep it down because the wind is pushing it up. With her right hand she is pointing to the train. It looks like she is asking the train to stop or she is just waving by. It is not clear. (Preferably, the lady looks like Ms. Rice!!)
The train is almost passing her and her hair is dancing in the air because of the wind caused by the train.

If you are talented in caricature, draw something based on this description. Then, if you were interested, mail it to me and let me share it with others on this page. If not, just read these lines and just forget it; like anybody else!
Hassan H.

1- There is always a way for reconciliation instead of opening fire!
2- We cannot kill ‘our enemies’ simply because they are ‘our enemies’!
3- You should remember that you are also your enemy’s enemy!
4- If we start killing our enemies, the world will remain uninhabited!
5- How do you know your enemy is not right?
6- Have all enemies killed each other throughout history or there are some exceptions? Why don’t we look for the exceptions?

سری قبل – به پیشنهاد یکی از دوستان – یک سرودی از زمان انقلاب گذاشتم اینجا که البته الان هم در زیر این نوشته در همین وبلاگ هست. خواستید گوش کنید – مشتری می شید! ما جنس بد تحویل شما نمی دیم!!
اون ترانه باعث شد تا من این ترانه رو پیدا کنم. همین که الان می خواید گوش کنید.
پس همونطور که دارید این نوشته را می خوانید دگمه سمت راست ماوس را هم روی این پیوند کلیک کنید تا آهنگ را در کامپیوتر خود ذخیره کنید. اینجوری – هم سر فرصت آهنگ را قشنگ گوش می کنید و هم اینکه نوشته این حقیر را با حوصله می خوانید!
= گلچینی از ترانه های زمان انقلاب =

بلا نسبت شما – من از هر صد تا ترانه شاید دو تا شو قشنگ گوش می کنم ببینم چی میگه. باقی فقط از “پس زمینه” مغزم عبور می کنه و همونطوری خارج میشه !
اگه یادتون باشه – که حتما هست ( و اگر سنتان قد بدهد البته!!) یکی از اون ترانه ها و شعرهای قشنگ در زمان انقلاب این بود:
“برخیزید – به تفنگ و به خنجر و مشت
بشکافید – همه سینه و پهلو و پشت
باید دشمن وطن میرد
باید دشمن وطن میرد ”

انصافا بعد از این همه سال وقتی به این آهنگها گوش می کنی انگار همین دیروز سروده شدن. هنوز آثار زندگی و حرکت در اینها به طور چشمگیری زنده است. حالا بماند چقدر خاطره و حکایت و تاریخ را در همه آنهایی که آن روزها را دیده اند زنده می کند.
چه شور و حالی بود و چه شعر و سمایی! واقعا آدم از خیلی از این آهنگ ها هر گز خسته نمیشود. قوی – خیلی قوی!
ولی وقتی به بعضی از آن سروده های بسیار زیبا نگاه می کنیم – رگه هایی از انحراف را می شود در آنها پیدا کرد.
یکیش همین بالایی که خدمتتان عرض شد: “باید دشمن وطن میرد”.
خوب – چرا؟ چرا باید دشمن وطن بمیرد؟ اصلا در این تاریخ چندین هزار ساله مکتوب – هیچ شاهد مثالی نداریم که در آن دو تا دشمن همدیگر را نکشته باشند؟ حالا بگردید شاید باشد! ( یا حداقل صد تومن به بگوری بدهید تا برایتان شاهد مثالی در تاریخ پیدا کند! ارزشش را دارد – باور کنید راه دوری نمی رود! )
اما سئوال این است که چرا دشمن من باید بمیرد؟
از کجا معلوم حق با من است؟ صرفا به این خاطر که این آقا یا خانم دشمن من است آیا کار من را توجیح پذیر می کند که او را بکشم؟
احتمالا به همان اندازه که او دشمن من است – من هم دشمن او هستم. اگر به همان اندازه که دل من می خواهد او را بکشم – دل او هم بخواهد من را بکشد – می دانید چه می شود؟ می شود دشمن کشی !!
پس کی زندگی کنیم؟
اصلا چه کسی از این گونه دشمن کشی ها سود می برد؟ کی ضرر می کند اگر دو تا همسایه دشمنی شان تبدیل به دوستی شود؟
آقا چرا لحظه ای به این فکر نمی کنیم که این احتمال هم وجود دارد که دو تا دشمن به جای کشتن یکدیگر می توانند آشتی هم بکنند؟
به همان اندازه که در کله من و تو می کنند که فلان شخص ظالم است – آن یکی کافر است و فلان کشور استثمارگر – به همان اندازه هم رهبران آن کشورها و دین ها همین حس پر افتخار دشمنکشی را می چپانند توی کله پیروانشان.
نتیجه این می شود که مردم دو کشور و دو دین سایه هم را با تیر میزنند.
بچه که بودم دو تا همسایه داشتیم که همیشه ی خدا اینها با هم دعوا می کردند. من تصورم این شده بود – و این را به عنوان بدیهیات پذیرفته بودم – که هیچ دو تا همسایه ای با صلح و آرامش در کنار هم زندگی نمی کنند. ولی الان که نگاه می کنم می بینم در مقیاس بزرگتر هیچ دو تا کشوری نیستند که همسایه باشند و دشمن یکدیگر نباشند. شما خودتان نگاه کنید:
ایران و عراق – هر دو همسایه و دوست!! فقط هشت سال به هم فحش و نفرین بی ثمر نثار کردیم!
ایران و افغانستان – دوست و برادر – ( اصلا دلم لک زده برای دو تا از آن فحش های آبدار که به افغانی ها نثار کنم! خیلی ها شان زود از کشور ما رفتند!! هنوز حسابی فحش نخورده بودند!! افغانی های فلان فلان شده!! )
همین طور برو کشورهای دیگر – همه با هم مشکل دارند و همه سایه هم را با تیر می زنند.
هند با پاکستان – پاکستان با چین
چین با تایوان – تایوان با کره شمالی
کره شمالی با کره جنوبی
کره جنوبی با ژاپن
همینطور دور کره زمین بگرد تا برسی به آن طرف که کانادا با کبک و یا آمریکا با مکزیک دعوا دارد. اینم از جهان اولی های دنیای متمدن ما!! تمدن بیداد می کند!
اصلا این ذات و سرشت همسایگی است. حالا اگر همسایه نبود – دو تا برادر می افتند به جان هم. این ذات انسانی است.
حالا اگر قرار باشد “دشمن همه بمیرد” – خودتان قضاوت کنید چه بلایی سر بنی آدم می آید!
اما هدف از این همه پرچانگی؟
این که اول به جای آنکه صد در صد در فکر کشتن دشمن باشیم – بشینیم ببینیم آیا واقعا راهی غیر از جنگ و تنفر نیست؟
و دوم اینکه در هر کلام زیبایی – نظیر همان سرودهای دلچسب – احتمال سو استفاده های فکری هم وجود دارد.
پس چشممان را باز کنیم و توصیه های ایمنی را جدی بگیریم

کاشکی این خارجی ها هم فارسی بلد بودند تا مجبور نمی شدیم یک کلام را به چند زبان ترجمه کنیم تا آنها هم با ما دعوا نکنند

Sunday, March 04, 2007
Hassan H.

ترانه شب نورد
خواننده : استاد محمد رضا شجریان
آهنگساز و اجرا : استاد محمد رضا لطفی
شعر : اصلان اصلانیان
راوی : مهدی فتحی

شب است و چهره میهن سیاهه
نشستن در سیاهی ها گناهه
تفنگم را بده تا ره بجویم
که هرکه عاشقه پایش به راهه
برادر بی قراره
برادر شعله واره
برادر دشت سینه ش لاله زاره
شب و دریای خوف انگیز و توفان
من و اندیشه های پاک پویان
برایم خلعت و خنجر بیاور
که خون می بارد از دل های سوزان
برادر نوجوونه
برادر غرق خونه
برادر کاکلش آتشفشونه
تو که با عاشقان درد آشنایی
تو که همرزم و همزنجیر مایی
ببین خون عزیزان را به دیوار
بزن شیپور صبح روشنایی
برادر بی قراره
برادر نوجوونه
برادر شعله واره
برادر غرق خونه
برادر کاکلش آتشفشونه
Listen! (Righ-click and choose ‘Save Target As’ to download this song in MP3)

Hassan H.

“Dec. 30 — Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was hanged in the predawn hours of Saturday …”

“Saddam Hussein was hanged for crimes against humanity at dawn on Saturday, a dramatic, violent end for a leader who ruled Iraq …”

“Saddam Hussein, who was accused of killing more than 100,000 civilians during his 23-year rule over oil-rich Iraq, was hanged in …”

“Saddam Hussein was hanged shortly before dawn today after the Iraqi Government rushed through the formalities of his final hours …”

“Many Iraqis reacted with jubilation to Saddam Hussein’s death sentence while others took the streets in protest …”

“The Arab world has lost a “hero” who championed Arab unity and battled the influences of Iran and Israel …”

Like you, I read all these reports on Saddam’s disappearance today. Frankly, I didn’t feel good at hearing such news. To be exact, I felt sad and sorry.
Generally, death does not make people happy; no matter who. I wished there were some other ways. Saddam, at such age and in such a situation, could not be a threat any more.
The Iraqi government and its allies’ rush in getting rid of an old ruined man reminded me of the hasty executions we witnessed shortly after the 1979 revolution in Iran. The major difference was that the latter was accomplished under the flag of democracy and freedom. Not big differences, eh!
Anyway, I took a nap this afternoon and, surprisingly, saw Saddam in my dream. His face was the combination of his childhood, his middle age, his days of victorious rise and the noisy fall.
He called me ‘brother Irani’ and said, ‘I thought all Iranians hated me. I thought my death would make you happy.’
I was still in shock when I told him that I hated nobody.
‘You have killed several of my friends in Iran-Iraq war, but, still I don’t hate you.’ I told him, ‘Although I don’t know the reason’.
He smiled and told me it was part of history and all those people including him were part of a major political act.
Then, he showed me a picture of his childhood. I had already seen it on internet. He looked like a peasant boy in the picture.
‘I grew up in a terrible family,’ he started talking, ‘where everybody treated me terribly bad. I never saw my father. All I remember is my stepfather and those others in my house who treated me like an animal. I could hardly find something to eat or to enjoy. I had no support at home and there was nobody to put his warm hands on my head. In spite of all these, I tried really hard to bring a change to my life and all of you saw that change. I became the president of a country.’
Then, he put several other pictures on my bed where I was still lying and asked me to look at them carefully.
‘Do you see any traces of stupidity in these faces?’ he asked.
I looked at them one by one and all I saw in his eyes was ambition and wisdom.
‘No’, I replied. ‘But you did a very stupid thing that even mentally disabled persons wouldn’t do.’
He smiled again and asked me to be more specific.
‘You had no power after all those sanctions that were imposed on you after the gulf war, and you knew it better than any other person,’ I said, ‘what made you challenge USA then? What made you tease such huge powers with an old sword? What made you replace such an imperial life with gallows?’
He gave me another smile and said, ‘that was also part of a historical act that needed to be fulfilled. Don’t judge hastily my Irani brother.’
He paused for a moment and said, ‘It was my shadow on the gallows. They hanged a useless statue. I am still alive.’
Then, with his hand, he pointed to the wall of my room where, like a movie theater, I saw some green places in a crowded world.
‘I am there,’ he continued, ‘among my neighbors. They call me Asad.’
Before I could find any words to say, he picked his photos and faded away like a shadow as if he was not there at all.
‘Dad, dad,’ somebody called.
I opened my eyes and saw my little child who was sitting on my bed beside me.
‘You talked when you were sleeping’, she said, ‘and I was afraid. Are you ok?’
I took her tightly in my arms and kissed her.
‘Yes sweetie. I am fine. It was just a dream; but a good one .’
She smiled and rested in my arms like a little cat.

Saturday, December 30, 2006
Hassan H.

Discrimination and inequality are not merely titles to address a particular injustice or a lack of right, but rather distinct characteristics of the unjust “civilized” world of today – a world where children suffer most from its systematic discrimination and constantly crumble under its wheels…
Please click here to download the complete message in Microsoft Word.